Folding chair



Sept. 21 1926. 1,600,248 A. E. ROSENTHAL ET AL FOLDING CHAIR Filed May13. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 21 1926.

A. E. ROSENTHAL ET AL FOLDING CHAIR Filed May 13, 1925 2 Sheets-Shoat 2Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES I 1,600,248 (PATIENT; OFFICE.

AARON E. ROSENTHAL AND WERNER E. CLARIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,.ASSIGNORS TO CLABIN MFG. CO., CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Application filed May 13, 1925. Serial No. 29,926.

Our invention pertains to a folding chair, and has for its main objectto provide a light and durable chair constructed from thin, light .metalor similar, suitable material, and which chair is so shaped and arrangedas to provide a maximum of strength with a minimum of material. Anotherobject is to make the supporting means of thin bars with parts thereoncurved lengthwise, and preferably along their longitudinal edges, toform reinforcing means, and thus offer the greatest amount of resistanceto bending and breaking. And another object is to provide a supportinglink for the chair seat which is arranged to act as a stop and to' limitthe movement of the seat into the folded and into the unfolded positionof the chair.

These and other objects are attained with our invention, one form ofwhich is described in this specification and is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which 1 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of thechair unfolded or open;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the chair folded or closed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, taken on line 3-3of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the chair unfolded; y

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views taken, respectively, on lines5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig, 7 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, taken on line 7-7of Fig. 1.

In the drawin we have disclosed one form of construction embodying ourinvention and this form comprises two pair of supporting legs 10 and 11which are pivotally connected together, as by the ends 12'- of the crossrod 12, the le s 10 being preferably madecontinuous wit the upper framepart or back-rest art 13 of the chair, or the frame part an legs 10 areformed from one bar which is bent and arranged as shown in the drawings.The legs and also the frame part 13 are preferably constructed from thinmetal bars which have curved portions extending lengthwise thereof, forreinforcement, and we preferably provide this reinforcement by curvingboth longitudinal edges of each bar, thus forming hollow or cylindricalportions extending lengthwise of each member-and suitably spaced, asbest shown in Fig. 6. A cross bar 14 connects legs 10 at theirintermediate portlons, and a cross bar 15 connects 1e s 11 adga'centtheir lower portions, to act 3.8%)130- mg and spacing members for thelegs; while one or more bars 16 are fastened between the side arms ofthe frame part 13, to act as bracing members and as a backrest. Theconnections between these bracing members 14, 15 and 16, and the mainmembers 10, 11 and 13, are preferably made by welding, or may be made byriveting, as indicated with the dotted circles at the respectiveconnections. Shoes 17, preferably in the form of angle irons, are weldedor riveted on the bottom of the legs, as indicated by the dotted circles17 and provide level and proper support on the ground.

The seat preferably comprises an outer frame or rim member 18, formedsimilar to the supporting members from a thin metal bar or band, whichis bent or curved at its longitudinal edges, the lower edge 18 beingrounded or suitabl shaped and the upper edge 18" being attened orotherwise shaped to form a smooth edge, as best shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings. A seat member 20 of board, fibre, metal or other suitablematerial is mounted in position between the curved edges of frame 18,and a tongue 21 at one end of said frame is bent over and fastened on tothe other end of the frame with a screw or fastening element 22 enteringinto seat member 20 or the ends of the rim member may be otherwisesuitably fastened.

The legs 11 have each a bar 23 fastened thereto, as by welding orriveting, and each of these bars has its upper end 23 extending abovethe leg and pivoted to the forward portion of the side of the seat.frame, with a rivet 24 or similar fastening element. A link 25 ispivoted to each leg 10 as with an element 26, and to the rearward partof the side of the seat frame, as with the element 27, for supportingthe rear of the seat. One link, or if provided with an integral.v finger25' which by the outward or unfolded movement of the seat engages thecrossbar 14 and limits the outward movement of said seat, as best shownin. Figs. 1 and 4, and each finger in the folded position of the seatengages the referred, then each link 25, is

lug 28, providing near the rear corner of the frame 18, to limit theupward move-V ward, the resulting contact of the front edge of the seatwith the floor causes the seat to fold rearward and upward into theframe, thus automatically closing and folding the chair flat on thefloor. This feature makes this chair of particular Value where itbecomes necessary to permit rapid exit of large groups of people fromcrowded buildings, as in case of fire or panic.

It is apparent from the above disclosure that we have provided a lightand at the same time durable chair which is readily foldable into aconvenient form to carry about and also to stack away in a minimum ofspace, as all elements of the chair are folded Within the confines ofthe frame part 13 and the connected legs 10, and furthermore that themetal on thelegs and frame part, and also on the seat frame is so formedand distributed by means of the curved edges, as to provide a maximum ofstrength for the amount of material used, and also that the links 25with their fingers 25 are arranged to be effective as supportingelements and also as stop elements to limit the upward. as well asdownward positions of the seat.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patents is:

1. A folding chair having supporting legs and an upper frame portionthereon, said chair having a pair of similarly formed legs pivoted tothe first mentioned legs, a seat pivoted to one pair of legs, stoppingmeans on said seat, a link pivoted on said'seat and one of the legs, andmeans extending from said link for engaging the stopping means on saidseat to limit the movement of said chair.

2. A folding chair having two pairs of legs pivoted together, aseatpivoted to one pair of legs, a stopping lug extending later allyfrom said seat, a link pivoted on said seat and one leg of the otherpair of legs, and a finger extending from one end of said link forengaging the stopping lug on said seat to limit the folding movement ofsaid chair.

3. A folding chair having one pair of legs formed integral with itsupper frame portion, a pair of legs pivoted to the first pair of legs, aseat pivoted to one pair of said legs, links pivotally connected to theother pair of legs and to said seat, a cross bar connecting each pair oflegs, a lug on said seat, and means on one of said links to engage saidlug or one of said crossbars to limit either the folding or theunfolding movement of said seat and chair.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

AARON E. ROSENTHAL. WERNER E. CLARIN.

